At a recent conference, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Chan Hellman speak about the science of hope. Hellman is a professor at the University of Oklahoma and the founding director of its Hope Research Center. His research examines hope as a psychological strength that can help children and adults experiencing trauma and adversity.…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/cosmos_815362774-e1783960758200.jpeg6401080Lauren Hallhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngLauren Hall2026-07-19 12:30:002026-07-13 13:27:38Hope is a Skill, Not a Wish
A dear friend of mine, who is a marriage and family therapist, recently sent me a piece of research because, as she put it, it reminded her of my family. This is both a compliment and a small accusation. I’ve often felt I know more family history than the average person should. Not just the…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/pexels-rdne-7782973-scaled-e1783348958921.jpg9562048Lauren Hallhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngLauren Hall2026-07-12 11:30:002026-07-06 10:50:32The Stories That Make Us Strong
As we just celebrated America’s 250th birthday, I found myself thinking about freedom. Not just the big, beautiful idea of it, but the everyday reality of it. We enjoy freedom of speech, but that freedom depends on people using their words with some measure of truth, courage and restraint. We enjoy freedom of religion, but…
Hope is a Skill, Not a Wish
At a recent conference, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Chan Hellman speak about the science of hope. Hellman is a professor at the University of Oklahoma and the founding director of its Hope Research Center. His research examines hope as a psychological strength that can help children and adults experiencing trauma and adversity.…
The Stories That Make Us Strong
A dear friend of mine, who is a marriage and family therapist, recently sent me a piece of research because, as she put it, it reminded her of my family. This is both a compliment and a small accusation. I’ve often felt I know more family history than the average person should. Not just the…
A Healthy Relationship Equals Freedom to Be Yourself
As we just celebrated America’s 250th birthday, I found myself thinking about freedom. Not just the big, beautiful idea of it, but the everyday reality of it. We enjoy freedom of speech, but that freedom depends on people using their words with some measure of truth, courage and restraint. We enjoy freedom of religion, but…